Mini review

I'm not sure what I was expecting with "NHL 10," but the end result is not unlike "NHL 09."

That's not a bad thing. "NHL 09" was on several Top Ten lists as best sports game last year, and EA again manages to capture all the excitement, grace and sheer brutality of the sport better than anyone else.

For those who like to throw down their gloves during a game, the fighting has been revamped in "10." When you're fighting one-on-one with a rival, the game almost takes on the feel of an urban street brawler. Unfortunately, to keep the E10+ rating, the fights aren't too realistic. Perhaps it's the savage in me, but when I nail a guy with enough force to knock off his helmet, I expect to also knock a tooth loose or, at the very least, bruise the guy.

With my propensity to start fights, I would have also expected to spend more time in the penalty box. The referees were surely blind as I was playing like the worst Detroit Red Wing -- and seldom got called out for it.

It's still a solid hockey game, that I almost hate to nitpick like this.

The game could have been much improved by a "Crazy Taxi" style mini-game. Yeah, I know that was the equivalent of a cheap check into the glass, (the game's coverboy is Chicago Blackhawk Patrick Kane), but I couldn't help myself.

If you already own "NHL 09," you may want to rent this one first to see if it's worth spending another $60. (Rated E10+ for mild violence)

--Misha Davenport